RESTORING THE VILLAGE YOUTH INITIATIVE A Comprehensive Response to a Chronic Community Problem St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners October

RESTORING THE VILLAGE YOUTH INITIATIVE: PROJECT REPORT & UPDATE 1.Gang Assessment & Community Feedback 2.Responding to Community Feedback 3.Buy In from Stakeholders/Funding 4.Project Coordinator Hiring 5.Outreach Worker Hiring Process 6.Training & Technical Assistance 7.Referral & Intervention Process

FIVE CORE COMPONENTS Gang Involved Youth and Families Community Mobilization Social Intervention Opportunities Provision Suppression Organizational Change & Development

GANG ASSESSMENT & COMMUNITY FEEDBACK Approx residents participated in our various data collection efforts: Community Resident Surveys Teens and Parents Community Leaders Students & School staff Youth Serving Agencies Almost 50% of the respondents report not feeling safe in their communities 75% of residents think there are gangs in their community; at the same time, almost 80% do not think their own children are at risk of being in a gang. “Snitches Get Stiches” Need for Improved Relationships with Law Enforcement Need to Acknowledge Victims/Survivors

WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID T op 3 Concerns in the Community 1.Unemployment 2.Gang Activity 3.Homicides Top 3 Causes of Violence 1.Lack of Activities 2.Poverty 3.Boredom Top 3 problems created by gangs 1.Increase in Violent Crime 2.Increase in Weapons 3.Increase in Drugs Top 3 Solutions for Stopping Violence 1.Jobs & Job Training 2.Programs & Recreation 3.Mentoring Who’s Responsible for Fixing it? 1.Police 2.Churches 3.Family

RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK  Two “Know the Law” Forums, aimed at improving youth/police relationships –attended by 200+ teens  Reentry Resource Hub --40 community agencies serving approx. 100 people on DJJ/DOC supervision  Community Peace Vigil in honor of Ma’Keila Burkes – Attended by 600 community residents  Free Summer Transportation for Youth  Developed by St. Lucie County Community Services  Over 3000 Rides  Corresponding Increase in Library Use  Community Mobilization (LPAC)  Memorial Garden  Activities & Events aimed at engaging difficult-to-reach-residents  Social Media App In the works…Development of mentoring programs

BUY IN & FUNDING  50+ Agencies/organizations meeting regularly to assess problem and develop comprehensive plan  MOU  Buy-in from local community residents Established funding to launch initiative BOCC Grant $40,000 OJJDP Grant $200,00 Allegany Franciscan Ministries $108,000 Hunt Foundation $100,000 In kind office space, City of Fort Pierce PROJECT COORDINATOR HIRING PROCESS  53 Applications Received  Hiring Committee Selected 10 Candidates for Interviews  April , Monica Jakobsen hired TRAINING & ORIENTATION  Two-week orientation at FPPD and Roundtable  Level 1 CJIS Security Test  Comprehensive Gang Model Training from NGC  Basic Street Gang Investigator Training  Preventing Crime in the Black Community  Gangs Florida Gang Investigators Association

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE Steering Committee Roundtable of St. Lucie County SuppressionInterventionPrevention Intervention Team Street Outreach Coordinator Lead Agencies FPPD & Roundtable of SLC

STREET OUTREACH FUNCTIONS 1.Reach out to the target population 2.Link gang members to available services 3.Advocate for the needs of the target population with mainstream agencies 4.Provide a model of positive social behavior 5.Provide crisis response directly to gang members and their families Outreach Workers are NOT snitches or confidential informants Nor are they extensions of law enforcement activities or personnel

INTERVENTION TEAM COMPONENT Identify appropriate clients based on local data and screening criteria Create an individualized case management plan for each client Engage gang members in direct services Dismantle or surmount barriers to crucial services Build an ongoing relationship with each client (outreach is crucial) Improve the effectiveness of agencies serving gang-involved clients

RESTORING THE VILLAGE YOUTH INITIATIVE INTERVENTION TEAM MEMBERS  Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County  In the Image of Christ  St. Lucie County Community Services  Fort Pierce Police Department  Port St. Lucie Police Department  St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office  Florida Department of Juvenile Justice  Florida Department of Corrections  St. Lucie County Public Schools  The Roundtable of St. Lucie County  Drug Abuse Treatment Association (DATA)  Florida Department of Children and Families  Deveraux Community Based Care of Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast  CareerSource Treasure Coast

REFERRAL CRITERIA Involvement in a gang or violent street organizations Recently released from prison Recently shot History of violence Weapons carrier Prior criminal history Involved in high risk street activity Target Population Primary Targets African American Males ages (secondary13-15) engaged in violent behavior in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood

TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Weekly sessions with National Gang Center Mentor Monthly Conference Calls with Project Directors and NGC staff sharing experiences Preventing Crime in the Black Community Conference, Tampa May Florida Gang Investigators Association, Gang Summit, Daytona Beach June 8-10 Comprehensive Gang Model Training with Celeste W. and Meena Harris, National Gang Center, June 18 th National Gang Center Outreach Worker Training – September 2015 Gang Center Law Enforcement Training – October 2015 Gangs 101 & Gangs & Social Media --Florida Gang Investigators Association (October) National Gang Center, Intervention Team Training – November 2015 In the works….Project Coordinator & Outreach Workers on-the-job-training, Houston TX CGM site.

NEXT STEPS  Accepting Referrals (from Community Residents, DJJ, Law Enforcement and Court System)  Currently have 35 Youth Referred; Referral Meeting Oct. 20th  Building Resources  Outreach to Schools/ Community Programs  Taking Youth to Job Fair, Nonviolence Workshop  Information Sharing MOU/ Parent Consent Forms

Thank You for Supporting RESTORING THE VILLAGE Youth Initiative Any questions, please contact: Shaniek Maynard or Monica Jakobsen